Introduction-

Final Fantasy Tactics was filled with many interesting characters, but one of my favorites, who seems to be disliked by most other people, was the Blade Knight, Izlude. I have no idea why most people dislike him. Personally, I saw him as an honorable character who happened to trust his father too greatly. It was this trust in his father that made him realize too late that he was serving the wrong side.

This two part story (I'll write the second part tomorrow) will deal with the conflict Izulde is facing after running into Ramza and his realization of the truth. Though the first half takes place while Izlude has captured Alma, the second half takes place in a familiar scene, but will have a bit of dialogue change and other minor changes (for reasons that should be obvious after reading the first section).

Hope the readers enjoy, and feel free to leave any comments.

"Ah, what a gorgeous sight!"

The sky was lit up in a bright tapestry of colors, woven together in a piece of spectacular beauty and magnificence. At the moment, only a single person on the entire continent of Ivalice noticed the incredible sunset. This person was a young man with brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a bright smile while he was grinning (normally a very rare occurrence). He wore glowing golden armor, and had a dark green cloak covering the majority of the armor. This man was named Izlude Tingel.

Izlude happened to have some company with him on this particular occasion. Normally, Izulde traveled with only a single companion, Njoka. The chocobo was with him today as usual, but in addition there was a young girl with him as well. Izlude knew very little about her. However, he knew from Wiegraf that she was the younger sister of Ramza. Izulde had been told by Wiegraf that the girl needed to be captured for the greater good. The greater good.. I wonder who dictates what the "greater good" is.. How can one person alone know what the greater good is? How can capturing a harmless girl be for the greater good?

Izlude ignored the questions in his mind and continued to stare at the impressive sunset before him. The sight seemed to make his troubles melt away, maybe it would be the same for the girl..

"You should take a look at the sky! Such beauty would impress even Saint Ajora!"

The girl, who was currently stroking Njoka, did not reply. Izlude sighed. How ungrateful! I could not have treated her any nicer, and this is how she repays me?

Earlier that day, the girl seemed to have realized she had no chance of escaping and had stopped struggling. Izlude had untied her and tried to explain that he had no intention of kidnapping her and would free her as soon as he was given the word to do so, but she had kept her head turned away and ignored his every word. It seemed that the act was not about to stop anytime soon.

"I'll be right back, miss. I'll try to find some food for the both of us. Not to worry, I won't go far. Make sure you keep an eye on her, Njoka.

Njoka warked in reply, and Izulde knew he would make sure the girl did not wander off. It was somewhat surprising Njoka was even tolerating the stroking..

Izlude marched off in search of anything he could find that would prove a suitable meal. It seemed that luck was on his side this evening, for he soon stumbled across the perfect ingredients for a nice soup after few minutes search. He gathered the leaves and spices, and headed back to the clearing.

Njoka warked again at his return, and the girl was still standing next to the chocobo, stroking him under the neck. Njoka looked quite happy being stroked by this young girl. Izlude was quite surprised. The chocobo was highly friendly, but only to those it trusted, and it trusted very few people (and it hated most of the temple knights aside from Izlude and Wiegraf). Izlude had been convinced earlier on in his life that Njoka could read the true intentions of a person. It had been highly interesting that Njoka had gone from acting kindly to his father to warking in fright every time the old man passed him by. Indeed, Izlude had noticed a very strange change in his father himself, and it seemed Njoka confirmed the change..

Izlude walked over to the girl and Njoka, and tried once again to engage her in conversation. "It seems Njoka likes you. I'm impressed. You must be a kind hearted person for him to act in such a way."

Once again, the girl ignored him, and Izlude felt a strange feeling. It felt almost like a small bit of hurt.. Snap out of it, you are only tired and frustrated, nothing more.. No need to try to converse with a sister of a heretic, even if Njoka does happen to like her.

Still, Izlude still felt a part of him wishing to talk with her. He tried once more.

"If you wish, you can feed him. I have some greens with me that he happens to greatly adore. You can feed him while I make some soup for the both of us, if you'd like."

The girl finally turned to face him. She had a sad look in her eyes that made Izlude feel strangely. "You do not seem like a bad person.. Why are you working for the church?"

Izlude stammered, incredibly shocked by the girls strange statement.

"E... Excuse me? I think I misheard you... Did you ask me why I was working for the church?"

The girl nodded, the same sad look still in her eyes.

What in Saint Ajora's name? Is the girl insane?? "I don't understand your question.. Are you trying to imply that the church is bad??"

"I.. I don't know.. So much has changed recently.. I no longer know if religion is true, or if it is nothing more then a tool, used to dictate the masses."

Izlude starred at the girl in mute horror. What a thing to say! Look at the corruption her brother has caused her!

Izlude regained his voice after a moment, and replied, "surely you are joking?! A tool to dictate the masses? Ridiculous! High priest funeral is trying to save the world! Surely you know that!"

Izlude suddenly recalled the conversation he had held with Ramza during battle. Both siblings have somehow been misguided! What force could have tricked them into thinking of the church as evil? Ramza had shown a quality of honor not fitting of a heretic.. I just don't understand it..

"Your brother made a similar statement when I fought him miss.. I apologize.. I still do not know your name."

"I'm Alma, and my brother made such a statement because he has seen the corruption held within the church! You must know about the Zodiac Stones and what they do, right?"

"Of course I do! The stones have the power to save the world! High priest funeral himself plans to use the stones to restore peace! Your brother has been misguided! Someone has lied to him and tricked him to fight for the wrong thing!"

"No, it can't be! My brother told me that the church was after the Zodiac Stones because they had been deceived! Something is controlling the church! It is the work of the Zodiac Demons!"

"Zodiac Demons? What lies have you been told?! High priest Funeral is in charge of the church, and his intentions are good! It is true that he had to manipulate the "lion war", and I admit that the entire event is a terrible ordeal. However, Funeral was willing to take full responsibility for the deaths that took place during the war. Funeral was willing to sacrifice his own honor, in hopes of creating peace for the world! The man is a hero! Don't you see?"

Alma took in this new information, and appeared even more distressed. Izlude felt uneasy again.

"I see.. It makes sense now.." She turned again to Izlude. "Funeral is no longer in charge of the church. A Zodiac Demon has most likely taken control of him now, or perhaps it has taken control of someone with even greater power. Anything is capable for one who carries a Zodiac Stone. Either way, the church does not realize that it has been deceived."

Izlude was horrified. Zodiac Demons taking control of humans? Madness! My father holds a Zodiac Stone and he... Oh God...

It dawned at that moment.. Izlude realized the girl was telling no lies.. He remembered the horrific change that took place within his father. The change had taken place when his father had found one of the Zodiac Stones! My God... Alma is right.. My father did not become a Zodiac Brave.. He became a Zodiac Demon! The legend must be incorrect... No... It can't be...

Alma noticed the complete look of horror on Izlude's face. She realized that despite spending an entire day with him, she still did not know his name. "Are you all right?"

Izlude looked like he was going to faint. He had become deathly pale and was struggling to keep standing up. "You.. Your right.. I don't believe it.. I was the one deceived..."

Izlude fell to his knees, appearing to be struggling greatly. She's right.. She's right.. My father.. No...

"No.. Damnit, its impossible.. All this time.."

Alma realized that this soldier had truly been deceived into fighting for the wrong side. Alma knew that he must feel terrible, and wondered exactly what she could say to try to help him feel better. She walked up to him, and, not knowing what else to do, put her hand on his shoulder.

It took a moment for Izlude to remember that Alma was present. Despite his distress, anger, and shock, Izlude did not want to look weak and pathetic in front of this nice and intelligent girl. He stood up and recollected himself. The intelligence of this girl is incredible. How can someone of such a young age be able to put pieces together so much quicker then I was able to? In mere minutes, she was able to realize something that not a single member of the church was able to rationalize.. I was right.. She is no ordinary girl..

Izlude sighed sadly. "I don't know what to say.. What to do.. I should have listened to Ramza's words but I did not want to believe them! Damn, why was I so rash.. Alma.. I'm sorry for what I've put you through.."

Alma was relieved to hear that the man now realized the truth. "You have no need to apologize.. I'm sorry, I don't know your name either."

"Izlude Tingel."

"Well, Izulde, I understand entirely how you must feel.. I wanted to believe the same thing.. I would have never guessed how horrible the truth really was.. Even so, it is for that reason that my brother is trying to stop the war and the manipulators. He fights on, even though he has been unjustly branded a heretic, and is being hunted by his brothers and the church alike.. I just wish I could have been of more help to him.. My magic was not even powerful enough to save Simon.." Alma hid her face. It looked like she was fighting the urge to cry.

Izlude looked at Alma as if he was noticing her for the first time. "Alma, you and your brother are right! Now that I understand, I may be able to help both of you. I should be able to convince the members of the church of the truth. The only question is, will they be willing to listen? I assume that Simon was the man at your side when I found you? I'm sorry that I did not stop my father when he attacked the man.. His actions as of late have been horrific, but I thought his cruel and cold nature had been caused by the war and the continuing violence which he detests so. It seems that if your story is true, then my father may be under control by a Zodiac Demon..."

Alma gasped. "Your father was that brutal knight with the purple robe?"

Izlude shook his head, looking angry (although the anger was not directed at Alma). "No, he's not my father! He has changed ever since he obtained a Zodiac Stone! That is how I know that your story is true.. He used to be a good man, but recently has become a brutal monster.. The way he treated my sister.. Damn that Zodiac Demon! I just don't understand something.. I have in my possession some Zodiac Stones, and I have not been affected. How is it that only my father was affected?"

Alma looked like she was trying to figure something out. "Does the man who used to be your father hold a high level of authority in the church?"

"Yes. He is probably the second leading authority of the church, and is highly trusted by Funeral. When I think about it, I never noticed any changes in high priest Funeral. I do not think he ever held onto any Zodiac Stones either. From what Funeral told me, he had left my father and the temple knights in charge of collecting the Zodiac Stones."

"Then the Zodiac Demon controlling your father is most likely the cause of all this violence! My brother also holds Zodiac Stones and has not been affected. Perhaps they can only take over certain people.. We have to get to my brother and tell him who has been manipulating the church!"

"Maybe we should go back to the church first. I can tell Funeral the truth, and Ramza's name will be cleared! The danger will pass without him having to fight the church any longer."

"I doubt that will work.. The Zodiac Demon controlling your father will probably try to trick Funeral into thinking that you have gone mad and have joined the heretics. He has manipulated Funeral before, and he will likely be able to do so again. I think that we will have to get to my brother first. After that, we can try to convince members of the church willing to listen to us."

Izlude could not help but smile. "You certainly think of everything. I don't think I've ever met a quicker witted person then yourself. You are right too. Perhaps if we head to the nearest town we may be able to find some rumors as to your brother's whereabouts."

Alma also smiled. "That sounds like a good plan. We should probably leave right away."

Before Izlude could reply, Njoka, who had been listening to the entire conversation, warked indignantly.

Izlude chucked, "I don't think Njoka likes the plan. We forgot to feed him, didn't we? I can't speak for you, but I must agree with one of Njoka's objections. I am also quite famished."

Alma had forgotten about both food and feeding the chocobo. She blushed slightly and handed Njoka the greens. The chocobo started gobbling them down at a tremendous rate. "I'm not as hungry as he is, but I suppose some soup would be nice. Would you like some help preparing it?"

"Oh, it's no trouble. Thanks for asking though." Izlude was about to start gathering wood, but he suddenly laughed. "It seems fate itself has destined our meeting, Alma. I think we were meant to come across one another, though it is certainly a shame our acquaintanceship could not have started in a better manner. Even so, I think that we will be able to do a great deal of good for Ivalice, and perhaps the entire world. I just hope your brother will give me a chance to help him."

Alma silently agreed about what Izulde had said. "I think you may be right, Izlude. If fate does exist, it has a strange way of working, does it not? I am sure that my brother will be more then happy to accept your help as well."

Izlude smiled, and returned to gathering firewood. I have to admit, she's a very nice girl.. and so bright! I hope Ramza shares her kind nature and intelligence.. If he does, he must be a great leader.

Both Alma and Izlude were both deep in thought, so neither heard the black raven swoop high above them. The raven cackled strangely, and said to itself "amazing, both of my targets are still together! Barinten will be pleased!" The raven flew away and exploded in a loud bang heard only by Njoka.